Cumulus Eugene could launch a new format on 102.9, by simply adding an HD2 stream to KZEL. Of course, a move to Blanton Heights would be necessary for 102.9 to properly cover Eugene. Cumulus could put CHR on 96.1 HD2 and 102.9 to compete with Bicoastal's KDUK.

OK, I believe that the FCC rules permit a translator to rebroadcast the main station intact... analog as well as HD-1, HD-2, RDS, and SCA if technically possible, but can a HD-2 stream from the main station be rebroadcast as the ANALOG signal on a translator? Seems like this might be a bit of a grey area.

I want to say that I heard about an HD2 station back east somewhere being carried on a translator. The station was even branded with the frequency of the translator.

Found it... dateline Asheville, NC:

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quote:

Oct 01, 2008, radioandrecords.com
Saga Launches New Triple A In Asheville
By John Schoenberger

Saga is taking a creative approach to providing a triple A station for the growing Ashville, N.C., market by originating the station on an HD2 channel and then rebroadcasting it via a regular over-the-air signal via a translator.

Called 98.1 the River, the station's official calls are W251AO. Previously, 98.1 FM had been a translator for sister sports/talk 1310 WISE. Now, the translator is a rebroadcast of "the River" format which originates at oldies 96.5 WOXL HD-2. So it is a three-way multimedia experience: online at 981theriver.com, 96.5-HD2 and 98.1 FM. [...]

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Wow! That opens up many interesting possibilities ! Thanks!

Basically, the FCC has said yes to HD-2,3,4... and NO to SCA, DRM, or any digital SCA. (DRM for now is considered an SCA signal.)
By law, SCA transmissions are not for the general public.
For something to be rebroadcast on a translator, it has to be receivable on readily available consumer radios. HD-2 “is”. That determines what can be broadcast on a translator.

In recent days I have been in the market for a clock-radio. NONE of the sub-$50 models I've tried, new or used, can get decent reception on any of the numerous Eugene-area translators.

94.9 Jamz is lucky to pull a 2 share.

I question whether it's financially feasable to create another format just to feed one or two translators attempting to cover a single market.

Using a translator to add FM service to an existing AM might be a better bet. There is no additional overhead except for the translator itself, which is not very expensive.

Cumulus in Harrisburg, PA was the first to take advantage this new opportunity, when they moved "The Touch" from AM 1400 WTCY to 104.1 WNNK-HD2, while continuing to simulcast on 95.3 W237DE. (1400 is now WHGB with an ESPN Sports format.)

www.thetouch953.com

Saga then jumped on this opportunity and launched the following:

98.1 W251AO and 96.5 WOXL-HD2, Asheville, NC

www.981theriver.com

103.3 W276AO and 97.3 WYXL-HD2, Ithaca, NY

www.hits1033.com

102.9 used to be the Springfield translator for 95.3 "The Moose" So what does this mean for the future of 95.3 "The Moose" They have opened up thier playlist alot....so to follow suit 93.3 has also done the same and billing it self as :Now more veriety than ever before"

It would seem that the next generation of HD radios should have the capability to automatically switch to the translator frequency as a back-up, if the HD-2 signal from the main station is lost.

Thanks, Radioxpert, the Harrisburg station is the one I was thinking of, but I couldn't remember it by name/location. I pulled the information on the North Carolina station with a simple search of R&R's website. Obviously, it wasn't the right one!

>>102.9 used to be the Springfield translator for 95.3 "The Moose"

It still is.